Patriot Games [OLD edition]

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Harrison Ford made his first appearance as on-again-off-again CIA agent Jack Ryan in this screen adaptation of Tom Clancy´s best-selling book. Like Ford´s other action films, "Patriot Games" mixes in with the adventure a good deal of reason and intelligence to produce a good, above-average thriller. The DVD transfer is up to industry standards and occasions a worthwhile viewing experience.

This time out Jack Ryan is working peacefully as a college professor when he becomes embroiled in a terrorist plot to kidnap a member of the British Royal Family, Lord Holmes, played by James Fox. Ryan and his family are vacationing in London when he coincidentally happens into the middle of an assault upon Holmes´ car by a group of IRA extremists. Ryan breaks up the attack and in the process kills the brother of one of the Irish gunmen. The gunman, Sean Miller (played by Sean Bean), is captured, while several of his accomplices get away.

Later, Miller escapes and vows revenge on Ryan for killing his brother. From that point on it´s Miller vs. Ryan, as the latter tries desperately to protect himself and his family from the murderous Miller and company. And this is no easy task, as the bad guys here are so bad they feel no remorse in killing each other, let alone killing their enemies.

Harrison Ford again demonstrates why he is America´s number-one action hero, a combination of toughness and courage with just enough human warmth to make him seem like the guy next door. Yet he also possesses a commanding presence on the screen that continually demands our attention.

The role of Jack Ryan had been played in a previous film, "The Hunt for Red October," by Alec Baldwin, who later said that he felt lost in the picture because he couldn´t compete with fellow star Sean Connery. Ford is one of the few actors who has proven his ability to stand up to the commanding presence of Connery.

Also in the film are Anne Archer as Ryan´s wife; a very young Thora Birch as Ryan´s daughter; James Earl Jones reprising his role as Admiral James Greer; Patrick Bergin as a terrorist leader; Sean Bean playing another of his typically nefarious roles; and Richard Harris in a small part as an IRA sympathizer.

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